A pizza place open til 5 a.m.? Must be for all those Gold Coast residents who are up before dawn, craving buffalo wings for breakfast before a rousing morning of bird watching, right? OK, all kidding aside, this pizza stand's nearby proximity to Rush Street's nightlife scene should explain Chi-Town Pizza's decision to be open until 5 a.m. on the weekends: alcohol is a poor appetite suppressant, as is the lovely smell of melted cheese and tomato sauce emitting into the sidewalk. Any late-night visitor should expect long lines, an often rowdy clientele and the occasional stench of vomit – although if you're coming from the clubs, chances are you've already had to deal with these scenarios, anyway.

Menu-wise, the most popular item is the pizza by the slice ($4-$5), which – ironic enough for a place called "Chi-Town Pizza" – comes in NYC thin-crust form. Whole pies offer more variety (small, 12-inch runs from $12-$15, large, 20-inch from $18-$23) with specialty pizzas like the Blanca (spinach & ricotta) or the Selvatica (pesto, basil, olive oil and tomatoes) dishing up more than the typical pepperoni and sausage affair. Other options abound – garlic bread, cheese sticks, Italian beef sandwich – but the pizza is practically a must for first-time visitors: greasy, chewy and not too filling.

The wood-layered interior actually comes off as quite classy during the sobriety-filled afternoon, with neon lights ("Buffalo Wings! Ribs!") and a flat-screen TV lining the wall. The classiness and surprising cleanliness make it difficult to classify Chi-Town as a certified hole-in-the-wall pizza dive, although it's worth noting the Parmesan cheese sits at the counter in a Styrofoam cup – a little tidbit like that should tell you the Chi-Town's spirit is destined for grease-spot heaven.

Centerstage Reviewer: Andy Seifert